Washington Adds QB, Three Others
Washington has signed quarterback Hutson Mason, defensive tackle Daryl Waud, linebacker Houston Bates, and linebacker Dasman McCullum, according to Mike Jones of the Washington Post (on Twitter). All four were recent tryout players. As Jones notes (link), Washington had just one roster spot open as of Saturday afternoon, so multiple moves will have to be made. It remains to be seen who will get cut.
When former Washington State quarterback Connor Halliday abruptly decided to retire last week, the team was left without a fourth signal caller on the depth chart. Now, Mason comes in as that extra arm behind Robert Griffin III, Colt McCoy, and Kirk Cousins. To say that it’d be a longshot for Mason to unseat one of those QBs would be an understatement, but the youngster could be setting himself up for a spot on Washington’s taxi squad. Mason, a Georgia product, is said to have a high football IQ but less-than-ideal arm strength.
E.J. Manuel May Not Make Bills’ Roster
There has been a lot of talk about whether E.J. Manuel will be the Bills’ starting quarterback this season. However, it’s also not a given that he will make the 53-man roster, according to Joe Buscaglia of WKBW, who has come to this conclusion from talking with several people associated with the Bills.
From the outside it appears that veteran Matt Cassel has a good shot at winning the starting job, but it’s well known that coach Rex Ryan is also fond of the athletic Tyrod Taylor. Manuel lost the starting job after four games last season and he’s looking to prove himself again this summer, but he may be facing an uphill battle. Recently, Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News opined that Manuel was likely to get traded if he didn’t win the No. 1 job.
Buscaglia writes that while Manuel is regarded as a solid teammate, the Bills are concerned about his on-the-field limitations. As it stands, Manuel simply isn’t accurate enough to play at a high level in the NFL. The Florida State product had a promising rookie season in which he threw for 1,972 yards in ten starts. Even then, his touchdown-to-interception ratio left much to be desired as he threw for 11 scores but gave up 9 picks.
The new regime in Buffalo might feel that Manuel can be saved with different guidance, but Ryan’s team might also decide to start fresh under center.
Patriots To Sign Brandon Spikes
The Patriots have signed free agent linebacker Brandon Spikes to a one-year deal, according to Adam Schefter and Field Yates of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Spikes visited the Pats earlier this month and less than two weeks later, he has found himself an NFL home for 2015.
The 27-year-old started his career with the Pats, spending four seasons with the team before joining the division-rival Bills a year ago. While he’s typically taken off the field in passing downs, Spikes is an effective part-time player, specializing as a run defender. He received interest from – or at least been linked to – the 49ers, Vikings, Dolphins, and Bills this offseason, but none of those teams could keep him from returning to New England.
On an admittedly small sample of passing downs, the advanced metrics from Pro Football Focus (subscription required) were actually kind to Spikes’ pass-coverage abilities, as he ranked fourth-best at his position in yards per coverage snap and coverage snaps per reception. Still, you can expect to see him mostly against the run. Overall, he graded as PFF’s 13th-best inside linebacker in the league last season thanks to his run-stopping ability. Spikes finished ninth against the run at his position in 2014 and ranked No. 1 against the run in both 2012 and 2013.
By signing Spikes after May 12, the Pats avoided having his deal counted toward the compensatory draft pick formula for 2016.
Patriots Release Chimdi Chekwa
Chimdi Chekwa‘s stay with the Patriots was a brief one. The cornerback, who was signed on March 11th, has already been let go, a source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
Chekwa signed with the Patriots after the Raiders declined to tender him an offer in March. The former fourth-round pick was brought in to give some depth to the team’s stable of cornerbacks following the departure of Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner via free agency. Now, with Kyle Arrington and Alfonzo Dennard also jettisoned, there aren’t many true cornerbacks left on the roster. As it stands, Malcolm Butler, Bradley Fletcher, Robert McClain, and Logan Ryan are the only actual cornerbacks in the fold.
As Florio notes, the Pats do have eleven other players listed as defensive backs, but none are cornerbacks. Out of that bunch, five of those players are rookies.
Pats Owner Robert Kraft On DeflateGate
Patriots owner Robert Kraft has long been a strong ally of commissioner Roger Goodell. However, it sounds like recent events might have changed that.
“You’ll have to ask him,” Kraft told Peter King of The MMQB when asked about the status of their relationship.
In a lengthy interview, Kraft went on the record with King to discuss the scandal surrounding the Pats and the sanctions levied against them. The entire piece is worth a read, but here’s a look at a few of the highlights..
On his frustration level:
I just get really worked up. To receive the harshest penalty in league history is just not fair. The anger and frustration with this process, to me, it wasn’t fair. If we’re giving all the power to the NFL and the office of the commissioner, this is something that can happen to all 32 teams. We need to have fair and balanced investigating and reporting. But in this report, every inference went against us … inferences from ambiguous, circumstantial evidence all went against us. That’s the thing that really bothers me. If they want to penalize us because there’s an aroma around this? That’s what this feels like. If you don’t have the so-called smoking gun, it really is frustrating. And they don’t have it. This thing never should have risen to this level.
On whether he might violate NFL bylaws by taking the league to court over the penalties:
I’m not going to comment on that at this point in time. I’m going to leave it. I won’t say.
On the meaning of the gauge readings:
Footballs have never been measured at halftime of any other game in NFL history. They have no idea how much footballs go down in cold weather or expand in warm weather. There is just no evidence that tampering ever happened.
On the capability of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who (barring a successful appeal) will start the first four games of the season for New England:
My gut feeling is the same as yours. He is a very hard worker, a very fine young man, but until the bullets are flying and you’re out there, no one knows. Think about how many of these first-round picks, even, don’t make it. [Garoppolo was a second-round pick last year.] He works hard and he studies hard, though.
Extra Points: Deflategate, CBA, Tebow
We heard earlier that Tom Brady‘s suspension may not in fact be reduced, but the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin cites some inconsistencies that need justification from Ted Wells as the Deflategate saga continues to gain depth.
The main issue Volin takes with Wells is why he charged the Patriots with not cooperating with his investigation fully. Specifically, the Boston reporter points out Wells had the “deflator” text from Jim McNally in his possession before meeting with him, but his team did not find it until after McNally’s deposition because the text was from May 2014.
The Patriots refused to make McNally available again due to the apparent lack of due diligence from Wells’ team, citing a February email from team attorney Daniel Goldberg to Wells that stated barring “unanticipated circumstances” there would be no second interviews with subjects.
“You refused to give me the information I requested except to say that the topic was ‘new,’ ” Goldberg wrote in an email to Wells on March 9 that the Patriots released Sunday regarding Wells’ request for a second summit with McNally. “It turned out, however, that the topic involved asking about texts that you had before his prior interview — so it was not something that arose from extraordinary or unanticipated circumstances, but was apparently just something you neglected to pursue in his earlier interview.”
Volin requested Wells’ end of the email chain from the NFL but did not receive those before publishing this story.
More from around the league on Sunday night …
- Roger Goodell‘s ability to hear Brady’s appeal is not a power he’s unearthed from nowhere. The provision of safeguarding the game’s integrity has been present since the first CBA in 1968, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes. This provided then-commissioner Pete Rozelle power to impose discipline and designate the hearing officer for any appeals regarding issues of conduct detrimental to the “integrity of the game.”
- Russell Wilson and the Seahawks are not discussing a fully guaranteed contract, writes Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. Condotta adds that, while the amount of guaranteed money will play a key role in this extension, teams must provide the full amount of the fully guaranteed deal up front. The player doesn’t receive it all then, but the amount must be accounted for — similar to Ndamukong Suh‘s deal with the Dolphins this year, with some of the money being placed in an escrow account for future payment — to prevent teams from not following through on financial promises.
- Tim Tebow‘s odds of making an impact with the Eagles appear slim as of now, but Zach Berman of Philly.com writes the 6-foot-3, 236-pound quarterback could be of use should the Eagles’ extra point proposal, which would place two-point conversions at the 1-yard line, pass this week at the NFL owners’ meetings. Although the Eagles didn’t attempt a two-point play last year, they went 3-for-8 in 2013. Tebow’s scored from the 1-yard line in each of his three attempts and converted first downs on six of eight 1-yard-to-go scenarios in his last starting role in 2011. Berman also adds the Eagles’ preference for DeMarco Murray‘s north-south running style will help here, with Murray’s six 1-yard scores leading the league last season. So a lot could be riding on this week’s proposal in Philadelphia.
- Vikings right tackle Phil Loadholt is “pretty much up to full speed” after sustaining a torn pectoral muscle last season, writes Minneapolis Star-Tribune columnist Sid Hartman. Brandon Fusco is not quite as far along after tearing a pectoral muscle, according to Mike Zimmer. With Charlie Johnson, a four-year starter on Minnesota’s front at either left tackle or left guard, still an unrestricted free agent, the Vikings are contemplating a reshuffle to fill the gaps. A starting right guard for two full seasons and three games into last year before suffering the chest injury, Fusco could potentially move to left guard, and rookie tackle T.J. Clemmings could begin his career by lining up at right guard.
- The Chargers will not keep any of the 15 tryout players they brought in, Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports (on Twitter).
- Adrian Robinson, a former NFL linebacker and recent CFL cog, died Saturday night at the age of 25, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports. The cause of death was unknown. Robinson played for the Steelers, Broncos, Chargers and Washington from 2012-13 and was a member of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Latest Mailbags: Panthers, Jaguars
Here are some additional mailbag stances as the weekend closes.
- Fifth-round pick Cameron Artis-Payne will be the Panthers‘ No. 2 running back behind injury-prone Jonathan Stewart, notes ESPN.com’s David Newton. The ESPN scribe expects the Auburn runner to leapfrog veteran backup Fozzy Whittaker on the depth chart. Newton expects undrafted free agent Brandon Wegher, an NAIA product and former Iowa transfer, to outwork Whitaker for the No. 3 job.
- Newton anticipates Devin Funchess to slot in as the No. 2 wideout alongside Kelvin Benjamin at some point this season, which would give the Panthers one of the largest starting tandems in the game. Also viewed as a potential tight end, Funchess’ potential to play inside and outside gives him an edge on Philly Brown, Ted Ginn and Jerricho Cotchery, according to Newton.
- Cornerback Nick Marshall will have the best chance of the Jaguars‘ undrafted free agents at making the roster, writes ESPN.com’s Michael DiRocco. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Marshall will be making the rare transition from quarterback to cornerback, doing so after two years of leading the Auburn attack. DiRocco expects one of the UDFA linebackers to stick, along with possibly running back Corey Grant, he of a 4.27-second 40-yard dash clocking.
- In a battle of undrafted signal-callers, DiRocco expects Stephen Morris to edge out Jake Waters for the Jags’ No. 3 quarterback job behind Blake Bortles and Chad Henne. A former Miami quarterback who signed with the Jags in 2014, Morris suited up for six games last season. Waters started for two seasons at Kansas State before coming to Jacksonville this month.
AFC Mailbags: Browns, Ravens, Titans
Here are some takeaways from some of the latest mailbags produced by AFC reporters.
- The Browns upset Pro Bowl safety Tashaun Gipson by placing a second-round tender on the restricted free agent instead of a first-round tender, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. A first-round distinction would’ve paid Gipson $3.35MM this year, as opposed to the $2.36MM he’ll receive if he signs the second-round tender by June 15. Cabot, however, expects the team to offer Gipson a long-term deal before June 15.
- Before going to the Chiefs at pick 76, Georgia wideout Chris Conley caught the Browns’ eye, likely inducing one receiver-needy team to leapfrog the other, Cabot notes. The eventual receiver Cleveland selected, fourth-rounder Vince Mayle of Washington State, will undergo thumb surgery soon.
- Wideout DeAndre Carter (Sacramento State) and safety Nick Perry (Alabama) are the best best to make the Ravens as undrafted free agents, per to ESPN.com’s Jamison Hensley. With John Harbaugh proclaiming the team’s next return specialist could emerge from the UDFA contingent, as the team lost Jacoby Jones to the Chargers, Carter’s returning experience in Division I-FCS play bodes well for his chances, notes Hensley. Perry’s work in the Crimson Tide’s pro-style defense helps his cause.
- ESPN.com’s Paul Kukarsky expects rookie Jeremiah Poutasi to line up at right tackle with the Titans and anticipates former ballyhooed free agent Andy Levitre will have one more season to display the proficiency at left guard that led him to signing a six-year, $46.8MM deal in 2013. Despite ranking as the 45th-best guard last season on Pro Football Focus’ scale (subscription required), Levitre has an $8.6MM cap figure that is tied with Jason McCourty‘s for the Titans’ highest.
- Dorial Green-Beckham will threaten the playing time of raw outside target Justin Hunter before the second-rounder disrupts No. 1 receiver Kendall Wright‘s path, Kuharsky writes. Wright and Harry Douglas are now the primary slot receivers, with Wright’s versatility likely preventing any such Hunter-DGB looks in two-tight end sets.
Extra Point Change Expected This Week
Football purists preferring the traditional post-touchdown procedure are about to lose this battle, according to the MMQB.com’s Peter King. The veteran writer tweets the long-rumored adjustment to the extra point is coming on Tuesday when the owners convene for their May meetings in San Francisco.
PFR’s Luke Adams summarized the three options for modifications to the extra point earlier this week, but the almost-automatic sequence will either become more difficult or put coaches to a more complex decision after TDs.
For any of the proposals to replace the current extra point play, it would require 75% of the league’s owners (24 of 32) to approve a change.
Kickers have missed just 26 of the last 4,939 extra points, as King points on (on Twitter). With each of the three proposals featuring a move of the kick back to the 15-yard line, the near-certainty of seven points lessens. Two-point plays would still take place from the 2-yard line in two of these proposed changes, with the Eagles’ proposal calling for them to move to the 1.
Last season, kickers collectively made 272-of-302 field goals between 30 and 39 yards, which is the range the extra point could well move to this season. Only one kicker, the Browns’ Billy Cundiff, failed to convert on more than two field goals from this range last season. And these kicks came from across the field between the hash marks, as opposed to down-the-middle tries that would ensue following touchdowns, likely raising the specialists’ accuracy levels.
Both of the proposals that advocate for the new 15-yard line try feature the most interesting aspect of the proposed adjustment: possible 98-yard two-point conversion return jaunts that are occasionally part of the college game. While this might induce a few extra pulled hamstrings with sudden long sprints necessitated, post-TD turnovers could swing margins in strange favors and create some interesting attempts at covering that distance should an interception or fumble recovery occur.
Latest On Marcus Mariota, Titans, Offsets
Thanks to the new contractual bargaining agreement’s rookie slotting system, more than half (18 of 32) of 2015’s first-round draft picks are already under contract. Six out of the top seven selections have signed deals, and the lone holdout — quarterback Marcus Mariota of the Titans — will begin rookie contract negotiations on Monday, a source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Talks should proceed smoothly (again, thank the CBA), but one issue in the discussions could be the subject of offsets, writes Florio.
As Luke Adams explained in a PFR Glossary entry last June, offset language refers to what happens to a player’s salary if he’s cut during the life of his rookie contract. The player wants such language omitted from the contract — if he’s waived at some point, he’d collect not only his guaranteed money from his former employer, but whatever cash he can score on the open market. The club, alternatively, wants offset language included in the deal, as it releases them from a portion of the contact provided the player finds a new club.
As Florio notes, No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston didn’t force the issue on offsets; rather, he quickly caved and agreed to a contract with the Buccaneers the day after he was drafted. In fact, only one player selected in the top 10 has a deal that contains offset language — third overall pick Dante Fowler Jr. Given that Mariota was drafted earlier than Fowler Jr., it stands to reason that he could fight to include offsets.
It probably makes sense for the Titans to capitulate for two reasons. First, as Florio writes, if Mariota’s play is poor enough that he’s waived before his rookie contract expires, all off Tennessee’s decision-makers will have likely been fired anyway. In other words, there’s no sense in general manager Ruston Webster digging in on the issue of offsets, as he won’t be around much longer if Mariota fails.
Second (and this is my personal view), the Titans should yield on the offset issue because if Mariota is bad enough to be waived in the coming seasons, he won’t earn enough with a second club to make a dent in Tennessee’s books. As the second overall pick, Mariot will get every opportunity to succeed with the Titans. If he fails to the level of being cut inside of four years, what would his market be in free agency? Not very large, I would guess, meaning that the relief felt by Tennessee would be small anyway.
According to the rookie estimates provided by Over the Cap, Mariota should be in line for a four-year deal worth $24.21MM, with a signing bonus of roughly $15.87MM.